6 Cool Treats to Beat a Heat Wave

When it is hot outside, nothing tastes better than something cold to help cool you down. These sweet, refreshing treats are fun to make even when it is hot out and they are all best served cold!

Popsicles of all kinds are kids’ favorites in hot weather. You can skip the ice cream truck by making Homemade Fudgsicles. These chocolaty pops are easy to make and taste even better than the ones you can buy. The recipe will work with any type of popsicle mold, but you don’t need a specialty mold to make popsicles, either.

A big piece of watermelon is always refreshing on a hot day, but turning it into Watermelon Granita will make it even more refreshing. Granita is easy to make and you’re more than halfway there if you already have a watermelon in the kitchen – and there is no ice cream maker required.

Most ice cream recipes require an ice cream maker for the best results, but with the use of a secret (and easy to find) ingredient, you can make this No-Churn Cherry Garcia Ice Cream without an ice cream maker. The ice cream is rich, creamy and comparable to Ben & Jerry’s popular flavor. You will have to wait for it to freeze, but the recipe only takes a few minutes to put together.

I tend to find fruity flavors more refreshing than chocolate desserts, but chocolate cravings don’t go away just because the weather is warm and chocolate bars don’t hold up too well in the heat. This Intense Chocolate Gelato is the perfect dessert for a chocolate lover on a hot day, with its rich, intense flavor. It also makes an amazing root beer float if you want to switch out the usual vanilla! Using an ice cream maker for this recipe will give you the best results.

Frozen yogurt is another hot weather favorite that you can make at home. Greek Frozen Yogurt is tart, tangy and just as delicious as the stuff sold at gourmet yogurt shops. Top off a bowl with your favorite toppings, like fresh fruit, chocolate chips or crushed up cookies. Like the homemade ice cream, an ice cream maker will give you the best results for this recipe.

Finally, don’t forget that you can put that ambient heat to good use and turn your oven into a car with a batch of Car Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies. It’s a cool trick to use on a very hot day! When it is over 100F outside, the interior of a car can reach up to 180F when left in the sun – hot enough to do some long, slow baking. The cookies turn out just like they would from the oven! You won’t need to turn on your oven and you’re car will smell like freshly baked cookies when you’re done, too. Oatmeal cookie fans can try Car Baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies instead of the original.